North Coast Old Rasputin Russian Imperial Stout
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Tasting Notes
Old Rasputin opens with a dense wave of roasted malt, dark chocolate, and espresso, with secondary notes of dried fruit and a faint alcoholic warmth. The flavor follows through on that promise — bittersweet cocoa, molasses, and a hint of licorice settle into a full, almost chewy body. Hop bitterness is assertive enough to keep the sweetness in check without dominating. The finish is long, dry, and warming, with roasted grain lingering well past the last sip.
About the Brewery
North Coast Brewing is based in Fort Bragg, California, a small coastal town on the Mendocino County shore, where they've been operating since 1988. They built their reputation on well-crafted, consistent beers across a range of styles — Old Rasputin and the Belgian-inspired Brother Thelonious are their two flagship ambassadors. North Coast has long been considered part of the pioneering wave of California craft brewing, and their beers are widely distributed across the US.
Food Pairings
Old Rasputin's roasty bitterness and rich body make it a natural partner for a dry-aged ribeye, where the char on the meat mirrors the malt's roasted edge. A wedge of aged cheddar or a sharp blue cheese plays against the beer's sweetness and brings out its cocoa notes. Dark chocolate desserts — a flourless torte or brownies — are a straightforward match that reinforces the beer's own confectionery character. Braised short ribs or a slow-cooked lamb shank work well too, as the fat and rendered collagen soften the bitterness and let the fruity malt notes come forward.
Style Guide
Russian Imperial Stout was originally brewed in England during the 18th century at high strength to survive the long export journey to the Russian Imperial Court. It's defined by extreme roasted malt character, high bitterness, and an ABV that typically runs between 8% and 12%, all of which distinguished it from ordinary stouts and porters. Where a standard stout like a dry Irish stout is lean and moderate, a Russian Imperial Stout is dense, complex, and built for slow sipping — closer in occasion to a barleywine than a session beer.